UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 9, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: We want a legally binding agreement centred on mutual recognition (Kosovapress)
• Svecla: Sanctions against Veselinovic's group prove our fight against corruption was legitimate (media)
• UK's Abbott welcomes U.S. sanctions against Veselinovic's group (Telegrafi/RTK)
• Haradinaj hails U.S. sanctions as ‘excellent news for Kosovo’ (media)
• Radule Stevic and tenders awarded to him by Kosovo institutions (RFE)
• Minister Aliu confirms having a contract with company sanctioned by the U.S. (EO/Zeri)
• Kosovo joins U.S. in diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics in China (Koha/Telegrafi)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 33 news cases in Serbian communities (Radio Mitrovica sever)
• I did not yield to protests; I only met people’s demands, President Vucic says (N1)
• Borrell: US sanctions important step in fight against organized crime in Western Balkans (Kosovo-online)
• Millions worth tenders of an entrepreneur from the north of Kosovo, to whom the US imposed sanctions (RFE, KoSSev)
• Trajkovic: Serbian-Albanian connections (Radio KIM)
• KLA flag in Bosniak Mahala, Mitrovica North removed (KoSSev)
• Serb accused of committing war crimes arrested at Jarinje (KoSSev)
• Vucic participates in online Summit on Democracy (RTS)
• Admiral Bauer and General Wolters with KFOR Commander on security situation in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Serbian Parliament Speaker says expropriation law up for public debate (N1)

International:

• As Russia's Balkan Allies Toy With War, Kosovo Banks on U.S. Protection (Newsweek)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Berkovo: Struggling with Covid-19, without technical and potable water (Radio KIM, Radio Gorazdevac)
• Mitrovica North residents on new Covid-19 measures: political decision, making peoples’ lives more difficult (KoSSev)

• U.S. imposes sanctions on controversial Kosovo Serb businessman (BIRN)
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement on sanctions (media)
• Kosovo’s leaders welcome sanctions against Veselinovic and his group (media)
• Vucic: We’ll look into any serious allegations (media)
• Collaku: Kurti should change strategy to win ground with Serbia (euronews.al)
• Hasani: Constitutional Court has cemented obligation to form Association (media)
• Gastronomes to protest against government measures on December 15 (media)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Szunyog: No agreement in dialogue prevents deployment of special unit in northern Kosovo (Klan)
• The U.S. Democracy Summit starts Thursday, Osmani to participate (RTK)
• Weber expects Germany’s stronger commitment on resumption of dialogue (media)
• Qalaj: We have never requested permission for actions in the north (Ekonomia)
• Kosovo to start administering COVID-19 booster shots from Thursday (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Ten new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Borrell: New Vucic – Kurti meeting unnecessary before preconditions are met (N1)
• Serbian privileging of the north of Kosovo (RFE)
• “There are no obstacles to deploy Kosovo police in the north, but only in coordination with KFOR” (Kosovo-online)
• Rakic's visit to the Municipality of Gracanica without the presence of the media (KiM radio)
• Von Cramon’s tweet: Tabloid headlines, Vucic’s comments, and the SOC reaction (KoSSev, media)
• EU ambassadors confirm opening of Cluster 4 for Serbia (RTS, N1)
• Ambassador De Riu: Belgrade and Pristina to avoid rhetoric that closes room for negotiations (Kosovo-online)

International:

• Stabilisation and Association Council statement following the 4th meeting between the EU and Kosovo* (consilium.europa.eu)
• EU is losing the PR battle and the soft power in the Western Balkans (EWB)

• Kurti and Borrell clash over Association of Serb-majority municipalities (Koha)
• Kurti: Two decades since prison release, I continue to fight for the same causes (media)
• Escobar: U.S. supports implementation of reached agreements (media)
• Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti meets EC President von der Leyen, EP President Sassoli (media)
• Varhelyi on vetting process: No need for such a deep reform (Kosovapress)
• President Osmani meets UK, Austrian ambassadors (media)
• Haradinaj: Kosovo is in the hands of energy mafia (media)
• Kosovo, Albania Ready to Help any Potential US-led Ukraine Mission (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Borrell and Lajcak, talks about future of dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti: We have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (media)
• Meeting between Kurti and Vucic, not expected this year (Koha)
• Sir Stuart Peach’s appointment as special envoy to Western Balkans, important step (RTK)
• Perparim Rama sworn in as mayor of Pristina (media)
• KOSTT's request for allocation of 33 million euros for electricity in the north, rejected (media)
• Kurti represents Kosovo with a footnote in Stabilization and Association Council (Zeri)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 42 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: We are ready to sign agreement on missing persons, but it is Pristina blocking dialogue (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Flags of Albania and KLA displayed in Bosniak Mahala (KoSSev)
• NATO senior official says Serbia valued, long-term partner (N1, BETA)
• RCC’s Bregu: Challenges facing EU linked to those W. Balkans experiences (FoNet, N1)
• Von Cramon met SOC Bishop Grigorije (N1, media)
• The White House announced a plan to fight corruption on a global level (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• OSCE Mission condemned repeated vandalism of memorial plaque dedicated to missing Serb journalists (social media)
• Vucic and Hasanpur: Iran respects territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• The global fight for democracy begins at home (Politico)

International:

• Serbia Strengthening ‘Parallel Structures’, Kosovo Deputy PM Says (Balkan Insight)
• For Serbia’s Stevan Dojcinovic, journalism brings the Balkans’ corruption to light by ‘touching the untouchables’ (theglobeandmail.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• More than 100 cases of sexual violence this year (Koha, KoSSev, RTK2)

• Stano: Pristina and Belgrade have no readiness for dialogue (RFE)
• Kosovo delegation travels to Brussels for Stabilisation and Association Council (media)
• Kurti on Gllogjan case: Best investigators working on it (media)
• Bislimi: Parallel structures in the north stronger than ever (media)
• Kosovo leaders pay tribute to late US senator Bob Dole (euronews.al)
• Kosovo war veterans’ leader ‘trapped’ by leaked documents (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo death rate soars as result of COVID, data reveal (Prishtina Insight)
• Head of private sector union warns Kurti of big protests next week (Express)
• Kosovo judges’ ‘sexist’ language in rape trial draws outrage (BIRN)
• Youth from Kosovo will receive direct help from Youth Guarantee scheme (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• Haradinaj calls for unity in political battle with Serbia (media)
• Kurti mentions meeting with Vucic; EU says we cannot speculate (Telegrafi)
• “Serb MPs didn’t honor Dole only because he was a friend of the Albanians” (Express)
• Jablanovic accuses SL of surveilling people through cameras in Leposavic (Kallxo)
• Croatian President to visit Kosovo on Christmas, will meet Osmani and Kurti (media)
• Kosovo sends over 30 samples for testing for Omicron to Germany (Express)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 36 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Mts doo and ARKEP deny KosovaPress - that the number of illegal antennas in the North has increased (KoSSev)
• UNS: Memorial plaque dedicated to kidnapped Serb journalists demolished for eight time (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: Desecration of memorial plaque impermissible (Radio KIM)
• On the eve of Human Rights Day, the associations of missing appealed to Belgrade and Pristina to intensify their work (KiM radio, Kossev)
• Platform of NGOs asks decision on award to language non-compliant institutions be reconsidered (Radio KIM, media)
• Language Commissioner response to Gracanica-online open letter (Gracanica-online)
• Police invisible, Serbia’s roads blocked; Protest against Vucic in Kosovo north (N1)
• Protests across Serbia: “Serbia is not for sale! Marš sa Drine!” (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Merkel will be missed by all (Koha)

International:

• Cocaine Comrades: The Balkan Ties of a Fallen Colombian Drug Trafficker (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• PM Kurti hosts meeting with heads of shelters for domestic violence victims (media)
• Government declares iron will in defense of human rights (Ekonomia Online)
• “Women, girls from minority communities not included in labour market” (Koha)
• BIRN to Hold Exhibition Commemorating Reporters Killed in Balkan Wars (BIRN)

• Kurti and Vucic might meet in the second week of December (media)
• Kurti for Montenegrin daily Pobjeda: Serbia is copying Russia (media)
• Kosovo PM Kurti has telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar (media)
• Haradinaj calls Kurti a “communist” (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: Dangerous to believe that UN membership is not important (Zeri)
• Petkovic: Kurti will not get a U.S. visa while he attacks Belgrade (Express)
• Outrage over the language of a Kosovo court ruling (media)
• Kosovo Arrests 31 for Fraudulent Use of Agriculture Subsidies (BIRN)
• Vucic reacts to massive cross-country protests over lithium mine (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Three new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo introduces additional measures in effort to prevent new wave of COVID-19 infections (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 3, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• PDK: Shadow government will be formed after New Year holidays (T7)
• Kosovo Minister of Defense reports to parliamentary committee (media)
• Berisha: Army was never involved in police operations (media)
• The Western Balkans with “Russian troubles” (Radio Free Europe)
• New board no silver bullet for troubled Kosovo broadcaster (BIRN)
• Haradinaj: Deeply grateful to Merkel, a great friend of Kosovo (media)
• Abazovic: If Open Balkans is alternative to EU, Montenegro disagrees (Telegrafi)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian Government most strongly protested the Pristina’s new ban for Petkovic (GoS website, media)
• Serbian PM says support for EU membership highest in five years (N1)
• Serbian media continue reacting to awards presented to language non-compliant institutions, seek public apology (KoSSev, Gracanica-online, Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Rada Trajkovic acquitted of charges for slander against BIA official (KoSSev)
• Vucic grateful for EU financial gift for Nis-Merdare highway construction (N1)
• Rakic: SOC pillar of support for Serbian people (Kosovo-online)
• Vasic: Confirmation of verdict to Krstic a scandal that is no surprising (Radio KIM)
• Tadic on Rio Tinto Company: "Negotiations started during time of Zoran Djindjic's government" (B92)
• EC’s Pisonero: Rio Tinto ‘Jadar’ project can be good economic chance for Serbia (N1)
• Godfrey: US support participation of other countries from region in “Open Balkan” initiative (Kosovo-online)
• EU-W. Balkans Ministerial Forum: Importance of rule of law, judicial reforms (N1)

International:

• Far-Right Exploiting Pandemic to Spread Hate, in the Balkans Too (BIRN)

• Kurti meets Quint ambassadors and head of EU office (media)
• Kurti: Any initiative aimed at replacing EU integration is deviation from genuine democratic reforms (media)
• Politicians react to appointment of UK special envoy to Western Balkans (media)
• Mustafa: Association to either be formed or Assembly to invalidate 2013 agreement (Koha)
• Analysts discuss implementation of Constitutional Court rulings (Klan)
• Kosovo rejects entrance permission to Petkovic (RTK)
• Svecla meets Johansson, discuss fight against crime and corruption (media)
• EC 2021 Reports on Western Balkans: Corruption is widespread and remains an issue of concern (EWB)
• Arrested development: the unfinished church dividing Kosovo (AFP/France 24)
• Kosovo to Simplify Path to Citizenship for Albanians from Presevo Valley (Exit)
• Kosovo Confirms Jailing of Serb Ex-Policemen for War Crimes (BIRN)
• ‘Art Without Limit’ Film Festival Opens in Capital (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)